Israel has dramatically intensified its bombardment of Gaza City in a fierce military operation aimed at seizing the last major population center in the enclave. The relentless barrage of airstrikes and artillery fire has forced a mass exodus, as tens of thousands of families flee their homes in a desperate search for safety. The United Nations and aid organizations are warning that the forced displacement could create an even more catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The neighborhoods of Zeitoun, Sabra, and Remal have borne the brunt of the attacks, with days of continuous strikes leaving them devastated. According to residents and human rights groups, Israel has been systematically destroying residential high-rises, which it claims house Hamas infrastructure, though these claims are denied by Hamas. The intensified bombing has been accompanied by repeated evacuation orders from the Israeli military, urging the remaining hundreds of thousands of residents to move south to what it has designated a “humanitarian zone.”
Many Palestinians are now facing an impossible choice: stay in their homes under the threat of death or flee to an area that is already overcrowded, lacks basic services, and has also been subjected to Israeli strikes. One resident told Al Jazeera, “There is no safe zone in the Gaza Strip. Danger is everywhere.” The UN’s humanitarian office has documented a significant increase in displacement in recent weeks, with over 25,000 movements recorded in just a few days. The agency also warns that the number of children suffering from malnutrition is rising at an alarming rate.
The intensified military campaign comes as Israel’s leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have repeatedly stated their intent to push deeper into Gaza City. In a statement, Katz said the recent bombing was “only the introduction” to the invasion and vowed a “mighty hurricane” if Hamas does not surrender. The international community, however, has condemned the displacement orders and ongoing violence, with organizations like Amnesty International calling the actions “unlawful.”
As the bombardment continues, many families are leaving behind everything they own. Some are moving to the al-Mawasi area in southern Gaza, while others, unable to find shelter or resources, are reportedly returning to Gaza City. For the Palestinians of Gaza, the intensified attacks are not just a military operation; they are a daily struggle for survival, a new wave of displacement and a constant, gut-wrenching choice between two equally terrifying options.